Oscillating lamp support



NOV-` `6, 1962 J. c. CUFFMAN 3,062,987

OSCILLATING LAMP SUPPORT Filed Dec. 2l, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet l T-NZ 27 50 /58 INVENTOR ATTORNEYQ Nov. 6, 1962 J. c. CUFFMAN 3,062,987

oscILLATING LAMP SUPPORT Filed Dec. 2l, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY NOV- 5, 1962 J. c. CUFFMAN 3,062,987

`OSCILLATING LAMP SUPPORT Filed Dec. 2l, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,062,987 OSCILLATING LAMP SUPPORT Joseph C. Culfman, Builders Lumber & Supply Co., Malvern, Ark. Filed Dec. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 861,032 10 claims. (ci. 315-360) tance sufficient to irradiate all or many parts of the body l simultaneously. In addition the novel device of the invention obviates the danger of over-exposure by a novel timing feature.

The support is compact and easily carried and accomplishes its functions in a simple way so that it may be constructed inexpensively and of rugged durable parts. Furthermore,the bracket which holds the lamp socket and in turn the lamp is pivoted on an axis which passes through the lamp so that the center of mass is such that it will operate in several different stable positions, Without recourse to counter weights which needlessly add to the burden of aged or infirm persons who frequently are advised to use ray treatments and may be required to transport the support from place to place. Although of particular value in therapeutic applications the support can also be used with spot lights, ood lights, etc. for show windows, stores and other applications where light and motion are desired. f

The timing cycle can be varied from a few minutes to several hours; also, the length of the lamp sweep can be varied by a proper selection of components. One switch controls both light and motion so that neither can operate independently. The support may be mounted on table or lioor lamp bases or be built into solaria ceilings, gardens, etc.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of the device from one side, showing a lamp in place and showing the direction of oscillating of the lampi i FIGURE 2 is a schematic of the electric in the device;

FIGURE 3 is an elevation ofthe side of the device opposite to that shown in FIGURE 1 and without the lamp; j

FIGURE 4 is an elevation of the side of the device from which the lamp projects, also without the lamp but with a housing for the device shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4 showing the lamp in phantom lines; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4 also showing the lamp in phantom lines.

The electrical elements of the device are shown in schematic form in FIGURE 2. These elements lead from a grounding member 10 and a suitable source of power 12 and include a lead 14 to a terminal 16 of a switch, for example, the push-button twopoint-make switch 18. The operative elements of this switch include the contact circuitry used 3,062,987 Patented Nov. 6, 1962 point 36 and line 38 to complete the circuit as by connection to ground element 40.

Terminal 28 is also connected through line 42, junction point 44 and line 46 to the terminal 48 of the socket 49 which holds the incandescent lamp 50. The other terminal 52, of the lamp. socket, is connected by line 54, junction point sandline S8 to junction point 36 to complete the circuit and put the lamp 50 in parallel to the motor 32, both of these principal elements being controlled simultaneously by the switch 18.

The elements of the novel support device of this invention may be enclosed in the housing 59 and are mounted primarily on central plate 60, which along with inner spacer rods 62, 64, 66 and 68 and outer plate 70, constitute the chassis. The chassis may also be provided with outer spacer rods 72, 74 and 76, for connection to the housing. Outer plate 70 may be provided with the ears 77, 78 for connection to a suitable vertical or horizontal member, for example the standard 79.

Central plate 60 may be provided with perpendicular ears or other mounting means 80, 82 and 84, suitably by being made integral therewith. Motor 32 is mounted on central plate 60, preferably on the side opposite to outer plate 70, and also preferably thro-ugh the gear-box 86. The motor operates a lamp oscillating means and a timing means. Drive shaft 88, pierces the central plate 60 and is operatively connected to three elements: the gear box 86 having meshing gears (not shown) for transmitting rotary motion from the shaft of motor 32 to drive shaft 88, the drive gear 90, and the crank 92. The crank 92 is pivotally connected by means of moving pivot shaft 94 to one end of the link 96. The other end of this link is pivotally mounted on a mid-portion of the inboard leg 98, of bracket 100. This bracket is a generally U-shaped member which is pivotally suspended by mean-s of linboard leg 98, and outer leg 101, from the chassis by means ofinboard pivot rod 102, to the central plate 60, and by means of outer pivot rod 104 to the outer plate 70. The lamp socket 49 for lamp 50 is mounted on the transverse portion 108, of the bracket 100 with its threaded portion 110, accessible between the legs 98 and 101 of f the bracket. The socket pierces the bracket, exposing terpoints 20 and 22 and the yoke 24 which is operated by minals 48 and 52 on the opposite side of the transverse portion 108 from the legs. It is apparent from this description that the crank 92, moving pivot 94, link 96, bracket 100 and pivots 102 and 104 constitute oscillating means for the socket 49 mounted on the bracket and that when drive shaft 88 rotates, due to current being fed to the motor 32, a rotary motion is given the crank 92 which transmits a back-and-forth motion to the link 96, rock ing the bracket 100 on the axis defined by pivots 102 and 104, to cast rays from a lamp 50 in the socket 49 in an elongated path. It will be noted that the axis above referred to passes through the shank portion of a lamp used in the device.

The timing means is mechanically controlled through the drive gear 90 which meshes with the intermediate gear 112 which is mounted on intermediate shaft 114. This shaft pierces the central plate 60, the intermediate gear being on the side of the plate 60 which faces outer plate Mounted on the outboard side of intermediate shaft 114 is another gear, preferably the worm gear 116. This gear meshes with and turns the timing gear 118 which is mounted on the time-setting shaft 120. This shaft is conveniently supported by the ears and 84 and supports, along with the timing gear 118, the tension means 122 and the cam 124. The tme-setting shaft may also vsupport an indicating knob 126 having the pointer 128. Such an indicating device is suitable for use with the plate or housing 59 which may cover the oscillating device and may bear indicia calibrated in time units in the vicinity apenas? of an opening through which the free end of the timesetting shaft may project.

The cam 124 is rigidly fastened to the time-setting shaft 120 and ideally comprises a circular head portion 130, having a attened portion 132, and a shank 134. The tension device 122, can be a cross-shaped flat spring as indicated and holds the timing gear 118 in close frictional engagement with shank 134 of the cam 124.

Switch 1S is mounted preferably on ear S2 with the terminals 16 and 2S accessible for connection to leads 14 for the power source and to lead 30 to the motor and lead 42 to the socket and with button 27 adjacent to the cam 124. The switch is positioned and adjusted so that the circular edge of the head 130 of cam 124 can depress the button 27 suiciently to bring the yoke 24 into electrical connection with contact points 20 and 22. The positioning also provides for the release of button 27 when the at side 132 of the cam head is adjacent the switch, allowing the electrical contact to be broken.

The operation of the novel lamp support device of the invention is as follows when the drive shaft 88, as seen in FGURES 3 and 5 rotates clockwise:

With the time-setting shaft 120 set to the desired time, the circular edge 130 of cam 124 holds button 27 in a depressed position and current flows between contact points 20 and 22 through yoke 24 to power the motor 32 and lamp 50.

The clockwise rotation of shaft 8S causes clockwise rotation of drive gear 90 and crank 92. Crank 92 transmits to link 96 first an upward motion, from the position shown in FIGURE 5, and this motion is transmitted to the inboard leg 98 of bracket 100 with the result that traverse member 108 and socket 49 are given an upward curving motion around the axis or fulcrum defined by shafts 102 and 104. Rays from the lamp 50, therefore are cast downward. After the upward motion of link 96 has been completed, the continued clockwise motion of crank 92 causes downward motion of the linky withy a consequent downward swing of the socket, directing rays from the lamp upward.

The clockwise motion of drive gear 90 causes counterclockwise motion in intermediate gear 112 and the counterclockwise (as seen in FIGURE 3) rotation of worm gear 116. This causes counter-clockwise motion of the timing gear 118 which transmits a counter-clockwise rotation to the cam 124. When this rotation has continued sufficiently to bring flat side 132 adjacent the button 27the position shown in FIGURE 6-the button, rod 26, and yoke 24, spring out of contact with the contact points 20 and 22, cutting ofrcurrent to the socket and motor, ending the ray emission, the rocking or oscillation of the bracket, and the rotation of the cam.

The counter-clockwise rotation of the cam 124 also causes counter-clockwise rotation of time-setting shaft 120 and knob 126. figures, the pointer 128 should point to an off marking on the indicia.

To start operation of the devicethe time-setting shaft 120 may be twisted either clockwise or counterclockwise to the desired extent to determine the time period during which the device will operate. By this twisting, the operator of the device brings the circular edge 130 of cam 124 into engagement with button 27, depressing the button and allowing current to flow from the power source to the motor 32 and the lamp socket 49. The movement of the shaft 120 during this setting does not cause motion of the timing gear 118, since this gear Yis not rigidly connected to the shaft and since its engagement with worm gear 116 overcomes the friction between gear 118v and cam 124 brought about by the tension member 122.

When the button is depressed the lamp is once more caused to emit rays and the operation of the motor 32 causes rotation of the drive shaft 88 with consequent oscillation of the bracket 100 as described above. When the drive shaft 88 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction,

In the position illustrated in the 4 the rotation of crank 92, and gear is also counterclockwise while the motion of gears 112, 116 and 118, cam 124, shaft and knob 126 are clockwise.

The elements of this device may be arranged in a manner to give excellent stability to the device while the bracket is oscillating. This is a major objective in producing a practical oscillating 'lamp support, since sunlamps, flood-lamps, heat lamps etc.; are generally constructed of a heavy glass which can create a moving center of gravity in a support device unless the effect of moving weight is overcome. Therefore the novel support device of this invention may be provided with a bracket having legs almost as long or even perhaps a little longer than the shank portion of the lamp to be used to position the center of gravity of the lamp close to the axis of rotation or fulcrum point of the bracket. Also, the chassis may be given a pentagonal shape by using central and outer plates having five sides, as illustrated. Four corners of this pentagon may be utilized for the spacer rods 62, 64, 66 and 68, also as illustrated, while the fifth corner provides a suitable mounting place for the pivots 102 and 104, which as shown are generally arranged coaxially. Also, the timing gear 118, worm gear 116, intermediate shaft 114 and intermediatel gear 112 may be mounted in or symmetrically around the mid-plane of the chassis, that is, the plane which passes through the axis of rotation defined by pivots 102 and 104 and bisects the side of the pentagon opposite the pivot mountings.

It is claimed:

l. An oscillating lamp support comprising a chassis having means for pivotally supporting a lamp socket, an electric motor, a shaft rotatable by said motor, a crank rotatable in unidirection by said shaft, a link movable by said crank, said link being operatively connected to saidsupport means for oscillating the latter, said motor controlling a timing means for controlling access of electric power to said motor and to said 'lamp socket, said timing means being settable to the power-on position independently of said motor, and said motor serving to return the timing means to the power-off position.

2. An oscillating lamp support comprising a chassis having means for pivotally supporting a lamp socket, an electric motor, a shaft rotatable by said motor, a crank rotatable in unidirection by said shaft, a link movable by said crank, said link being operatively connected to said support means for oscillating the latter, said motor controlling a timing means for controlling access of electric power to said motor and to said lamp socket, a cam rotatable by said motor and rotatable by a time-setting shaft independently of said motor.

3. The support of claim 2 in which said cam comprises a circular head having a flattened portion and controls access of electric power by control of a switch adjacent to said cam.

4. The support of claim 3 in which the switch is in operative position for flow of electric power when the circular head of said cam causes pressure on said switch.

5. Anoscillating device for use with a lamp comprising a chassis having mounted thereon an electric motor and a switch and pivotally mounted thereon a bracket which has a transverse portion including a socket for the lamp spaced a sufficient distance from the pivot to put the approximate centerl of gravity of the combination of the bracket with a lamp at the axis of the pivot, a means for oscillating said bracket which comprises a shaft rotatable by saidmotor, a crank rotatable in unidirection by said shaft and a link, movable by said crank, connected to said bracket outside the said axis, and a timing means comprising a cam4 with a circular head having a flattened portion rotatable by said motor and rotatable by a timesetting shaft independently of said motor and adjacent said switch.

6. The device of claim 5 in Which'said switch controls access of power to both the motor and the lamp socket.

7. An oscillating device for use with a lamp comprising a pair of opposed, parallel, spaced apart mounting plates, one of said plates having an electric motor mounted thereon and positioned between said plates, a bracket pivotally mounted to opposed internal edges of said plates, said bracket having a transverse portion extending between and towards the middle of said plates and including on the transverse section a socket for the lamp facing outwardly of said plates, a shaft rotatable by said motor and extending through the plate on which said motor is mounted, a crank on the outer side of the plate carrying said motor and rotatable in unidirection by said shaft, a link movable by said crank, said link being operatively connected to said support means for oscillating the latter, said motor controlling a timing means for controlling access of electric power to said motor and to said lamp socket, said timing means being settable to the power-on position independently of said motor, and said motor serving to return the timing means to the power-Gif position.

8. An oscillating device for use with a lamp comprising a pair of opposed, parallel, spaced apart mounting plates, one of said plates having an electric motor mounted thereon and positioned between said plates, a bracket pivotally mounted to opposed internal edges of said plates, said bracket having a transverse portion extending between and towards the middle of said plates and including on the tranverse section a socket for the lamp facing outwardly of said plates, a shaft rotatable by said motor and extending through the plate on which said motor is mounted, a crank on the outer side of the plates carrying said motor and rotatable in unidirection by said shaft, a link movable by said crank, said link being operatively connected to said support means for oscillating the latter, said motor controlling a timing means for controlling access of electric power to said motor and to said lamp socket, a cam rotatable by said motor and rotatable by a time-setting shaft independently of said motor.

9. The support of claim 8 in which said cam comprises a circular head having a flattened portion and controls access of electric power by control of a switch adjacent to said cam.

10. The support of claim 9 in which the switch is in operative position for flow of electric power when the circular head of said cam causes pressure on said switch.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,753,144 Bassett Apr. 1, 1930 1,991,101 Kennelly Feb. 12, 1935 2,133,106 Monroe Oct. 11, 1938 2,611,367 Harkenrider Sept. 23, 1952 2,826,679 Irmischer et al. Mar. 11, 1958 2,954,771 Boyan Oct. 4, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 507,685 Canada Nov. 30, 1954 

